Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said over the weekend that its forces have killed nine members of al-Shabaab and destroyed equipment used to produce explosives.
This it said followed a coordinated attack it carried against al-Qaeda linked militants in the Lower Shabelle region of the Horn Africa country.
In a statement, NISA said the first operation took place in the area of Kuunyo Barrow, where security forces targeted what the agency described as a key militant facility. Six large generators allegedly used in the production of improvised explosive devices were burned during the raid.
The agency said six fighters, including militants it described as senior officers, were neutralised during the operation.
A second operation was conducted near Tugaareey, where militants were sheltering in a wooded area, according to the statement.
Three additional fighters were killed. It said many others fled the scene.
NISA said the operations were part of ongoing efforts by Somali authorities to weaken al-Shabaab’s operational capacity and dismantle its infrastructure across southern Somalia.
Security officials added that similar operations would continue until threats posed by al-Shabaab and militants linked to the Islamic State group are eliminated.
al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, frequently carries out attacks targeting government officials, security forces, and civilians in its bid to topple the federal government in Mogdishu and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
